The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have come to terms on a joint agreement to alter regulations on the size of goaltender equipment. An NHL spokesperson confirmed to SB Nation that the rule change will specifically focus on the height of leg pads and will be determined based upon the distance between the top of the knee and waist.
NHL shrinks goalie pads again
The NHL has confirmed a rule change regarding the size of goaltender’s equipment.
The size of a goaltender’s pads will be directly proportionate to the size of the player. This will prevent a 6’4 goaltender from having the same sized leg pads as a 6’6 goaltender. Specific details were not immediately available at the time of this writing, but the reduction rate was described as being somewhere between 10-15 percent.
This coincides with information provided by Kevin Woodley of InGoal Magazine.
Told NHL gets its 10% reduction on goalie pad knee-to-thigh allowance (~2" avg) but PA balked at enforcing thigh rise separately with 8" max
— Kevin Woodley (@KevinisInGoal) August 7, 2013
New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist already provided an example of this change as he tweeted out a photo of his newer, smaller leg pads on Tuesday morning. Based upon this new rule, the distance between the top of Lundqvist's knee and waist was disproportionate to the size of his pads last season, which forced him to shorten them for 2013-14.
The concept of altering goalie equipment was broached during the competition committee meeting in June. Topics such as hybrid icing and mandatory visors were also discussed. The issue surrounding goalie pads was sent to subcommittee to better analyze the potential of a rule change.
They have apparently bridged the gap on any issue with the alteration.
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